Hey guys, I just made the deal to rent a shop yesterday, and I'm considering offering space to a couple of my friends to help offset the monthly bills. I just don't know how much to ask them for! There are 2 buildings.. One is going to be an actual shop; it'll have heat, an air compressor, parts washer, sandblaster, floor jack, cherrypicker, chainfall, possibly even a 2 post lift, etc... and it's isolated enough that you could work any time you want without pissing off the neighbors. Also, while I'm not sure how to figure out the best way to "share" the consumables, I"ll also have torches, a plasma cutter, mig welder over there. The other is an old dirt floor barn that's been made secure. It does have power, but it's mostly just dry storage (for cars on the ground floor, and parts on the second). There WILL be an alarm, fire extinguishers, etc, as well as a good insurance policy, on BOTH buildings... While I'm sure it varies considerably due to location, what's the going rate for safe, secure, indoor storage space where you guys are? What about safe, secure, ALREADY EQUIPPED shop space? The buildings aren't huge, so I can't afford to get rid of TOO much space, but how should I offer the space? As $X per car, or $X per "Y" by "Z" space, or??? Any ideas on how to share the consumables? Thanks in advance for any input guys! Steve
For building #1, I'd pay $2000/mo up if it has room for two actual projects. If it's only room for one, maybe $1500. Building #2 sounds like a $300/mo per car thing. Those numbers don't count the shop equipment. If you plan to share all that stuff, I suggest you just set the shit on fire right now. It's just like leaving your girlfriend tied to the bumper in an alley with a head full of Oxycontin.
I share a shop with my brother, its 30 x 40 with concrete floors and free electric. $250 a month split 2 ways. Before we rented it they charged $30 a month per car for winter storage (no working on cars aloud).
Oh so true on the equipment. Don't ask to borrow my Wife,car,or tools. If you need my tools, you need me to use them for you.
Are you sure this is the best solution ? If your going to run the shop as a business . This has got trouble written all over it. If your going to share space with friends and hang out , determine how valuable the friends are because something will eventually go haywire but still preferable to friends as business partners. Business partners are costly to get rid of. Regardless of your decision the bills and responsiblities are yours. Run a 1, 3 and5 year projected expenses report for the building and or business. You wont know what to charge for the space until you do this and its not only a issue of what someone is willing to spend for the space but what it is costing you. What are your lease agreements? Can you sublease or is it a violation of your lease agreement. What are your lease terms for the space? Are you going to do this on a handshake or have a written contract (preferred). What's the coverage limits on the insurance policy for a leaseholder ? Will they need a separate policy (renters insurance) for the tenants? If you are going to continue on this path make sure you write up a rulebook to eliminate the bullshit that's going to be thrown your way. Remove all guns and weapons from the area. You may eventually want to shoot one of the friends or yourself before its over. Best wishes Larry
Steve down around here its about 100 and up a month for indoor storage. last year my mom found a guy for 50 bucks a month that would store her camaro but that was a hell of a deal. It was the guys first year doing it so he slash prices to get his name out. Shop space is tricky. Around here a 2500 sq ft shop is around 2k a month but up north aways that same shop is 1500 a month. But keep in mind thats the whole shop. I guess a good deal would be like 50cent a square foot that there using. Since they get access to your tools and shit. but im sure you wouldonly let guys u know well do that any way. I was just looking into all this for the last month so this is a good time to ask.
Me, 2 of my cousins (which are my best friends) and another guy that works with one of them rent a shop for 250.00 a month split four ways. and we split the electric too. I own the compressor, the welder and almost all of the air tools, if you empty the gas in the welder you fill it. i already paid the majority of the bill in purchasing the tools. As far as our shop goes it is just a hang out and i am pretty much the only one that works on anything there. i found that i have to lock up my box at nite because i was finding my tools in other peoples boxes.
i live in a warehouse and we have a small shop. only 3 of us really do much in the shop. one guy has all the bicycle tools, i have the compressor, drill press, table saw, mig welder, grinders, etc. we both have our own hand tools. i help him with car stuff, and he helps me with bike stuff. and he even bought me a spool of wire for the welder. works pretty good, but you do have to police up your stuff sometimes. and no one gets to use the table saw unless they've had the 'safety' course. one guy just asks me to do his cuts, and i'm happy to do it that way. since we all live here the shop is just sort of part of your rent. gary.
I'd like to be able to share some space but around here it's just too pricey. My son and I were looking a year or so ago and even the crappy buildings and areas were about $2.00 per sq. foot.....and they wanted long term leases.
Before we lived in this redneck palace I rented a storage locker right by my parents house on the "high rent" side of town. It was 10'X20' and I had the 49 and a bunch of shit in it. When I cancelled the lease, I was paying $148 a month, no heat but electricity. Now I have a 22X22 with a house in front of it and I'm paying $1200 a month. I wonder if I'm farther ahead? Of course, you know we live in "Yuppie land" so it may be considerably cheaper up there in the Clio "sticks". Jay
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